Carrier for use in handling tobacco leaves or the like



Jan. 26, 1965 w. J. WALDEN, SR 3,167,227

CARRIER FOR USE IN HANDLING TOBACCO LEAVES OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1962 INVENTOR WILUAM .JUUAN WALDEN,SR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1965 w. J. WALDEN, SR 3,167,227

CARRIER FOR USE IN HANDLING TOBACCO LEAVES OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W\LL\AM JULIAN WALDEN, SR.

BY I ,2.

ATTORNEY I I 3,167,227 1 CARRIER FOR USE IN HANDLING TOBAQQQ LEAVES UR THE LIKE William Julian Walden, Sn, Midway, Ky. Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 224,093 2 (Ilaims. (Cl. 224-49) This invention relates to carrying devices and more particularly to such a device which may be readily loaded while temporarily engaged upon various types of supports. The device is especially well suited for use in the handling of tobacco leaves during a priming operation and in the handling of tobacco plants during the transplating operation, but is in no way limited solely to these illustrative purposes.

7 Various forms of carriers have been proposed heretofore for employment with loose objects such as sticks of wood, out flowers, or the like, but to the best of my knowledge, such prior carriers embody one or more limitations which it is a purpose of my invention to overcome. For example, when the carrier is to be mounted upon a vehicle travelling through a rough field during a tobacco priming operation, it is desirable, if not essential, that it be mounted in a readily accessible position for loading; that it be easily attachable to and detachable from such vehicle; that it remain stable at all times during loading; and that it be securely fastened when manual carrying of the loaded carrier detached from that vehicle is to take place.

An important object is to provide a carrier having the above-mentioned capabilities.

Another object is to provide a carrier having a flexible sheet for surrounding loose objects to be carried, and with means attached to the sheet and serving during. one

,phase of use as a support for the carrier and during another phase of use as a handle for that carrier.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrier mounted upon a vehicle preparatory to loading.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view showing the position occupied by parts of the carrier when empty.

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary end view showing the position occupied by parts of the carrier when filled.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of the first and second rods, respectively, detached from the sheet and separated from the vehicle, and shown in their positions of use corresponding to'FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the first and second rods interlocked with each other for carrying purposes.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view showing a typical attachment of the sheet to one of the elongated rods.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a flexible generally rectangular sheet to which first and second elongated rods are swivelly attached along opposite edges of the sheet. Adjacent their midlengths these rods have carrier-supporting sections formed therewith and including hook means which embrace horizontal cylindrical posts on which the carrier is sup-ported during loading. The attachment of the sheet to the elongated rods and the shape of the hook means is such as to provide a selfadjusting of the carrier upon those posts as weight is added thereto. One of the carrier-supporting sections is shorter than the other and is adapted to be interlocked therewith to form a handle suitable for carrying the loaded carrier.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a typical employment of the United States Patent 0 carrier involves its use with a vehicle indicated generally at it and having a chassis 11 supported upon wheels 12 and including a framework 13. A pair of laterally spaced generally horizontal cylindrical posts 14 and 15 project in cantilever fashion toward the operators position and form the supporting structure upon which the carrier is detachably mounted during loading. As will be apparent, any similar supporting structure with a pair of such posts such as a stationary framework resting on the ground adjacent a tobacco bed from which plants are being pulled, would also be a typical employment of the invention.

The carrier comprises a generally rectangular sheet 16 of flexible material, such as burlap, having end edges 17 and 18, and side edges 19 and 20. Within reinforced holes adjacent each of those end edges a plurality of loose rings, such as the rings 21, 22, 23 and 24, within the holes 21A, 22A, 23A and 24A along edge 17 (FIG. 7), are positioned for a purpose later to appear. For cooperation with the edge 17 of the carrier an elongated first rod, best shown in FIG. 3, is provided, the end portions 25 and and 26 of which lie on the same axis and parallel to the axis of the post 14 on which the rod is to be supported. At the extreme ends this rod is bent into ring-receiving loops 27 and 28 forming apertures into which the rings 21 and 24 are engaged. As a significant feature, these loops lie outboard of and to one side of the axis of the rod when the carrier is mounted as seen in FIG. 2 and thus serve as lever arms tending to turn the rod in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of the weight of the objects being deposited in the carrier. The respective end portions of the rod merge into the respective post-embracing U-shaped hook members 29 and 30. This pair of members lies in planes transverse to the axis of the rod and which planes converge toward the midlength of that rod. The open portions of these hook members also extend in the same general directions as the aforementioned lever arms on that rod. The outermost extremities of these hook members are joined by means of the connecting portion 31 which extends longitudinally of the rod and forms a handle when the parts are interlocked in the manner later to be explained. This handle, however, is not necessarily formed as a straight part but may have, if desired, an arched configuration (not shown) providing a comfortable hand hold and serving by ready visual inspection to distinguish the part of the assembly which is to lit in the other part thereof when carrying is to take place. A

For cooperation with the edge 18 of the sheet an elongated second rod, best shown in FIG. 4, is provided, the end portions 35 and 36 of which lie on the same axis and parallel to the axis of the post 15 on which the rod is to be supported. At the extreme end this rod is bent into ring-receiving loops 3'7 and 38 forming apertures into which other rings, similar to those on the first rod, are engaged with a swivelalike engagement. These loops, likewise, lie outboard of and to one side of the axis of the red when the carrier is mounted as seen in FIG. 2 and thus serve as lever arms tending to turn the second rod in a clockwise direction under the influence of the weight of the objects being deposited in the carrier. The end portions of the rod merge into the respective postembracing U-shaped hook members 39 and 40 and the extremities of these members are joined by means of the longitudinally extending connecting portion 41.

It is to be noted that the pair of hook members 39 and 40 lies generally in planes normal to the axis of the second rod and that the length of the rod section containing these members and the portion 41 is longer than the length of the rod section of the first rod which contains the inclined hook members 29 and 30 and the connecting porcause a detachment ofthe-carrier from, the

tion 31. Moreover, the spacing between the pairs of hook members on-both rods is sufiicient to provide longitudinal ,stability to the mounted carrier and also to provide a Y adequate handlhold upon the handleelement 31. I

With the foregoing description in mind, the s'everaladvantages, of the invention will nowbe apparent when con-' sidering the typical usage exemplified in FIG. 1. The operator at his working station at the beginning of an oper-v ation merely drops the empty carrier intoplace upon posts 14 and 15 at which time the hook members occupy the angular positions seen in FIG. 2"and with, the lever 7 arms on the rods in a relatively raised position. 'Thereafter, as the tobacco leaves, or other objects, are "placed;

in a longitudinal array within theopenendedsheet 16 and their weight increases, each of the rods will be rotated 7 into improved gripping position on the support, posts second section having a length'greater than the length. wet the said tfirst section, each of said sections having a pairof generally U-shaped-hook members, said members until they finally occupy the positionsseen in FIGLZAH At thistime the lever arms will be in a relatively lowered position and during the rotation of theirods and hook members no binding of, parts occurs-due to the swivellike action afforded by the rings attaching the sheet to ami e? i 'second carrier-supporting sections integrally formed on s'aidrespective rods adjacent the midlengths thereof; said a and spaced'frorn each other sufficiently far to provide 7 longitudinal stability to said carriersand Witheach 'of '20 extending'outwardly from the axis of the respective rods saidhook'members'of each pairbeing joined to its companion member by .a longitudinally extending connecting the-two rods., These features are of special value'whenQ the carrier is being conveyed over rough ground, by the vehicle and the resultant jostling action might otherwise supporting posts. a Y

After being suitably loaded'the carrier is easily lifted from the support posts andby a simple manipulation the shorter'mid'section of the first rod is engaged within the longer midsection of the secondrodand interlocked'there with, as-showninFIGS. 5 and 6. 7 During this interlockingthe inclined surfacesiof hook members 29 and 3t) serve as cams which center the two rods withirespect to each other and prevent longitudinal-shifting of the edge 1? of the sheet with respect to -the edge 20 of that sheet. Sp'illing:

of the contents of the carrier due to shiftingrnovement thereof accordingly isobViated as the carrier is being carried by the handle, element 31. I

The carrier is simple in construction, expensive materials and when not in use it may be readily positioned upon and removed fromthecylindrical sup- *porting posts without requiring special latches or similar' devices and while on those posts possesses alongitudinal stability which avoidsspilling' of its contents, -Each"of the longitudinal rods preferablylis formed of a'sin'gle piece of metal rod, for example, a quarter inch diameter malleable steel rod having been found to be satisfactory for average usage and With the length of the carriersupporting section thereof being about .one-thirdthe total length of the rod. 7

Having thus described theinvention and its attendant advantages it is intended that the, appendedxclairns are to cover such changes and modifications of the described invention as come within the true. spirit andscope of the same. V I I 7 What is claimed is v 1. A self-positioning carrier for :use in handling tobacco! portion, whereby said carrier. may be detachably supported for loading upon parallel generally horizontal cylindricalposts'by means of saidhook members and .may be carried inloaded condition after detachmenttfrom said postsvand following engagement of said first section within '7 said second'section with theconnecting portioniof said first rod serving asla 'handle for the carrier, said reposi- -tioning of said carrier jservingto enhance the gripping action of said'hook members upon said posts when said carrier is being supported upon said posts.

is forrned of in V 2. A' carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook members of said .second section-lie in generally parallel planes-generallynormalto'the axis'of said secondrod and said hook members of said firstsection lie in planes 5 transverse of the axis of said first rod and converging toward the midlength ofsaid first rod, the distance between said planesof saidhool; members of said first section being such as toprovide a wedging' action of said hook members ofsaid first section, against the hook members ofsaid second section when 'said sections are interengagedfor carryingpurposes.

a 7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,118,519 11/1'4 Weaver 22449 1 2,100,235; 11/37 Brown 24897 [2,397,433 3/46" Reeves 22449 2,427,246 9/ 47 Whittington 224 -49 a 2,829,853 7 4/58 Wheeler et al.. 248-146 2,848,149 8/58 Ward 248146 MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner,

' HUGO o; SCHULZ', Primary Examiner-l} 

1. A SELF-POSITIONING CARRIER FOR USE IN HANDLING TOBACCO LEAVES OR THE LIKE AND COMPRISING, AS FLEXIBLE GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHEET, A FIRST ELONGATED ROD ATTACHED TO SAID SHEET ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF, A SECOND ELONGATED ROD ATTACHED TO SAID SHEET ALONG A SECOND EDGE THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID FIRST EDGE, EACH OF SAID RODS HAVING RING-RECEIVING MEANS AT THE EXTREME ENDS THEREOF AND LOCATED TO ONE SIDE OF THE AXES OF SAID RODS THEREBY TO PROVIDE LEVER ARMS THROUGH WHICH THE WEIGHT SUPPORTED BY SAID SHEET MAY ACT IN ORDER TO POSITION SAID CARRIER IN RESPONSE TO ADDITION TO WEIGHT THERETO, A PLURALITY OF RINGS SWIVELLY ATTACHING SAID SHEET TO THE RESPECTIVE RING-RECEIVING MEANS, FIRST AND SECOND CARRIER-SUPPORTING SECTIONS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON SAID RESPECTIVE RODS ADJACENT THE MIDLENGTHS THEREOF; SAID SECOND SECTION HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE SAID FIRST SECTION, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A PAIR OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED HOOK MEMBERS, SAID MEMBERS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE AXIS OF THE RESPECTIVE RODS AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER SUFFICIENTLY FAR TO PROVIDE LONGITUDINAL STABILITY TO SAID CARRIER AND WITH EACH OF SAID HOOK MEMBERS OF EACH PAIR BEING JOINED TO ITS COMPANION MEMBER BY A LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING CONNECTING PORTION, WHEREBY SAID CARRIER MAY BE DETACHABLY SUPPORTED FOR LOADING UPON PARALLEL GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL POSTS BY MEANS OF SAID HOOK MEMBERS AND MAY BE CARRIED IN LOADED CONDITION AFTER DETACHMENT FROM SAID POSTS AND FOLLOWING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FIRST SECTION WITHIN SAID SECOND SECTION WITH THE CONNECTING PORTION OF SAID FIRST ROD SERVING AS A HANDLE FOR THE CARRIER, SAID REPOSITIONING OF SAID CARRIER SERVING TO ENHANCE THE GRIPPING ACTION OF SAID HOOK MEMBERS UPON SAID POSTS WHEN SAID CARRIER IS BEING SUPPORTED UPON SAID POSTS. 